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Why selling off homes for just £1 in a derelict area of Liverpool makes sense Why selling off homes for just £1 in a derelict area of Liverpool makes sense
(7 months later)
On a sunny day, Granby's Four Streets area is a glorious corner of Liverpool. These leafy Victorian streets were once arguably some of the city's loveliest, and outside many of the small terraced homes today there are tubs of runner beans, tomatoes and sweetcorn. From time to time there's even a small street market, offering vintage clothes, trinkets, cakes and Caribbean food.On a sunny day, Granby's Four Streets area is a glorious corner of Liverpool. These leafy Victorian streets were once arguably some of the city's loveliest, and outside many of the small terraced homes today there are tubs of runner beans, tomatoes and sweetcorn. From time to time there's even a small street market, offering vintage clothes, trinkets, cakes and Caribbean food.
And yet this is an area that has been horribly neglected for the past three decades, repeatedly let down by a series of failed regeneration schemes, most recently the ill-fated £2.3bn housing market renewal (HMR) scheme – axed in 2011 by the coalition government. The Four Streets – also known as the Granby Triangle – was a focus of the Toxteth riots in 1981.And yet this is an area that has been horribly neglected for the past three decades, repeatedly let down by a series of failed regeneration schemes, most recently the ill-fated £2.3bn housing market renewal (HMR) scheme – axed in 2011 by the coalition government. The Four Streets – also known as the Granby Triangle – was a focus of the Toxteth riots in 1981.
Many of the houses were acquired and boarded up by the council in the years which followed, and their residents decanted. Regeneration was promised numerous times but never materialised, and the properties, artificially removed from the housing market by the council, inevitably fell into disrepair – bringing the surrounding area down further. In the very worst cases frontages have now collapsed into the small gardens, leaving yawning holes in the walls, above the bay windows.Many of the houses were acquired and boarded up by the council in the years which followed, and their residents decanted. Regeneration was promised numerous times but never materialised, and the properties, artificially removed from the housing market by the council, inevitably fell into disrepair – bringing the surrounding area down further. In the very worst cases frontages have now collapsed into the small gardens, leaving yawning holes in the walls, above the bay windows.
While the council has oscillated between plans to demolish or retain various parts of the site, the community have fought their corner – campaigning to save the streets and doing their best to take control of their environment. They painted the bleak metal grilles on the vacant houses – adorning their doors and windows with colourful curtains and flowers – launched the market, and won a Britain in Bloom contest.While the council has oscillated between plans to demolish or retain various parts of the site, the community have fought their corner – campaigning to save the streets and doing their best to take control of their environment. They painted the bleak metal grilles on the vacant houses – adorning their doors and windows with colourful curtains and flowers – launched the market, and won a Britain in Bloom contest.
Residents also formed the first ever urban community land trust (CLT) in 2011 in the hope of influencing the direction of the regeneration process. They hope to secure money from the government's empty homes fund – a £100m pot that aims to encourage community involvement in bringing properties back into use.Residents also formed the first ever urban community land trust (CLT) in 2011 in the hope of influencing the direction of the regeneration process. They hope to secure money from the government's empty homes fund – a £100m pot that aims to encourage community involvement in bringing properties back into use.
A new proposal to sell off some empty houses for £1 could be signed off by Liverpool's mayoral cabinet on Friday. The idea is being pioneered in Stoke-on-Trent, where around 70 ex-HMR properties are being released for £1 each, with local buyers offered a £30,000 low-interest loan to help them renovate. And housing campaigners have been urging other afflicted authorities to consider doing the same.A new proposal to sell off some empty houses for £1 could be signed off by Liverpool's mayoral cabinet on Friday. The idea is being pioneered in Stoke-on-Trent, where around 70 ex-HMR properties are being released for £1 each, with local buyers offered a £30,000 low-interest loan to help them renovate. And housing campaigners have been urging other afflicted authorities to consider doing the same.
Liverpool's proposal, called the "homesteading" plan, follows the collapse of a £25m agreement with the firm LeaderOne to redevelop houses in Granby, Kensington and Picton. So, 20 houses across the three areas could now be sold for £1 each to members of the public, who must renovate and commit to living in them for a minimum of five years.Liverpool's proposal, called the "homesteading" plan, follows the collapse of a £25m agreement with the firm LeaderOne to redevelop houses in Granby, Kensington and Picton. So, 20 houses across the three areas could now be sold for £1 each to members of the public, who must renovate and commit to living in them for a minimum of five years.
Ownership of other vacant houses could be transferred to housing associations to refurbish and sell at 25% below market value, with others sold to accredited private landlords. In total 180 properties could be brought back into use.Ownership of other vacant houses could be transferred to housing associations to refurbish and sell at 25% below market value, with others sold to accredited private landlords. In total 180 properties could be brought back into use.
Homesteading is exactly the kind of small-scale refurbishment approach that many people concerned about HMR-scarred neighbourhoods of northern England have been hoping for.Homesteading is exactly the kind of small-scale refurbishment approach that many people concerned about HMR-scarred neighbourhoods of northern England have been hoping for.
But just 200 metres away from Granby, plans have just also been announced to demolish 280 terraced houses in the Welsh Streets area of the city. The Madryn Street birthplace of Ringo Starr will apparently be spared following an intervention by Tory chairman Grant Shapps. Under the proposal, 37 homes will be refurbished and 150 new ones built. But many campaigners would like to see more houses retained and given over to creative refurbishments and grassroots homesteading type approaches, as may now happen in Granby.But just 200 metres away from Granby, plans have just also been announced to demolish 280 terraced houses in the Welsh Streets area of the city. The Madryn Street birthplace of Ringo Starr will apparently be spared following an intervention by Tory chairman Grant Shapps. Under the proposal, 37 homes will be refurbished and 150 new ones built. But many campaigners would like to see more houses retained and given over to creative refurbishments and grassroots homesteading type approaches, as may now happen in Granby.
Frequently over the past decade, HMR clearance plans have been underpinned by claims that these are obsolete areas of low demand where no one wants to live – claims apparently made without irony in neighbourhoods where the countless empty properties are all in council or housing association ownership and often boarded up so that people are unable to buy or rent them.Frequently over the past decade, HMR clearance plans have been underpinned by claims that these are obsolete areas of low demand where no one wants to live – claims apparently made without irony in neighbourhoods where the countless empty properties are all in council or housing association ownership and often boarded up so that people are unable to buy or rent them.
By offering more of these blighted properties to local people who want to make a commitment to these areas, councils could begin to tackle the scourge of empty houses and rebuild communities they played a key role in destabilising through years of acquisition and managed decline.By offering more of these blighted properties to local people who want to make a commitment to these areas, councils could begin to tackle the scourge of empty houses and rebuild communities they played a key role in destabilising through years of acquisition and managed decline.
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